Let us follow all the rules and isolate, even at home

Omicron. Pic/AFP

Some slightly reassuring news amid all the dark times is that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which is the primary reason for the current surge, is not pushing up hospitalisations to an alarming degree.

Having said that, first up, we would like to clarify though that one agrees with and must adhere to all the warnings. The Omicron is COVID, it is not a cold, and must be treated as such. It is ‘mild' for some, but mild is a relative term. It may be ‘mild' but cannot be taken or treated ‘mildly' or ‘lightly'. Finally, this is a situation in flux and things can change quickly all the time.

With that out of the way, the focus here is on a lot of people who are recommended home isolation. Do adhere to the stipulated period in which you are supposed to have no contact with other people.

There is a tendency to take things easier at home, for some. That should not be the case. Breaking the rules within your four walls, simply means you may infect others in your family, or those who live with you. This may be the elderly or somebody with comorbidities and the virus may certainly not be ‘mild' for them.

Since we see several ‘asymptomatic' cases, especially during this wave, it does not mean it is safe to go about, and you should not construe it as such.

There have been certain instances when infected residents have been moving in building passages, as they are bored of being at home, or accessing certain common areas for reasons that cannot be justified at all.

Just because one is at home, it does not give you licence to flout rules. Adhere to all protocol measures in the house. The timeframe has been given on scientific basis and logic, follow it to the letter.